Don't cut charters; you will harm kids

Sunday

Nov 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Editor, the Record:

An Oct. 21 letter writer is correct: State legislators should fix some "obvious and easily remedied inequities" in school funding. However, far from cyber school overfunding, the obvious inequity is penalizing parents and students for choosing the best education for their own needs.

As it currently stands — before proposed funding cuts — cyber schools receive only 80 percent of what public schools spend per student. That amounts to just 1 percent of the state's education spending. And cybers do have costs like buildings for teachers, Internet infrastructure, and even bricks-and-mortar learning centers that connect online learning with in-person tutoring for students who need it.

How is it fair or common sense to give more funds to a school district for a student who isn't there? Reductions — even a "conservative 11 percent" — could mean the closure of some cyber schools which could send sick, bullied and struggling students back to educational environments that they chose to leave.

Denying parental and student choice through cutting cyber school funding is an inequality Pennsylvanians oppose. Indeed, polling shows that 87 percent of likely Pennsylvania voters think parents should have the option to choose the type of public school that's best for their children.

Ultimately, school funding should be tied to the choice that best fits an individual student's unique educational needs.

JESSICA BARNETT

Research Fellow

Commonwealth Foundation

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.